The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-14
lNEWBERRY, S. c,
THURSDAY, APRIL II, 1887:
JUDGE i'EESSLEN AND THE
YORKEELLE LYNEMIXG.

week at Yorkville in regard to the
lynching Of the five negroes there,
and what he himself has to say Of
what he said. We do not see any
thing in what he said to bring forth
such criticism Of him rs the Neacs
und Courier seems fit 10 indulge in.
He states facts. It might have been
better for Judge PRESLEY not to have
stated facts-he could have kept
silent on the subject. It vas wrong
in those masked men to go to the
iail in Iorkyille and take the five
negroes out and hang them without
due process of law, even though it
was no more than they deserved.
1t would have been better to let
the law take It's course, and let the
execution have been made by dne pro-
cess Of law. We cannot say, though,
that the hanging of these negroes by
the lvnchers was a greater crime than
that Of which they were guilty, in the
killing Of little innocent Goode be-
cause he happened to see them steal
ing cotton from his fathers field.
And to attempt to investigate the
matter and put the lynchers OF trial
would be, as Judge Presley says,
enacting very much of a farce The
grand jury deprecatcs the custom Of
lynching. So do We. But when it
is sanctioned by the public sentiment
of the community i'll which it takes
place what are YOU going to do
about it. Try the lynchers and bring
them to justice. Yes, but they are
to be tried by their peers of the vicin-
age, and these same people are the
very ones among whom this public
sentiment exists that demanded the
lynching, and VINO probably were en-
gagged in it, and what does your trial
amount to more than an expensive
farce.
The people are superior to the
Law, because the enforcement of the
law is in the hands of the iuries,
who are the people, and law that is
not enforced is dead letter, and Will
remain such unless the people demand
It enforced. Lynching should be con-
demned and We do condemn it Some
one says make an example Of the lynch
ers by bringing them to justice and
Furnishing them for violation of law.
That is impossible and only serves to
demonstrate the impotency of the
law unless it is sustained by
a public sentiment that demands
it be enforced The people should
be taught in some way to let
the law take its course and a
healthful respect for the majesty of
the law inculcated in the minds Of
our people. How this is best to be
done We hardly know what to say.
The case against the Yorkvillc negroes
was a very aggravated one. A poor
innocent boy is beat to death with rocks
because he happened to see these ne
groes stealing cotton from his fathers
field. The grief of the poor father
of the murdered boy eliminates,
day or two before the lynching. in
lis becoming a raving maniac and
being sent to the asylum, and a once
happy nome being made miserable
all for no fault Of the murdered boy.
It was q terrible, most awful and
heartrending crime.
These negroes had confessed, and
there was no mistaking they were
the guilty ones, and there IS little
doubt they would have been con-
victed and executed by the law, if
let alone.
Men in every walk Of life, who
may attempt such crimes as these
negroes were guilty OF, should remom-
ber that swift and condign punish
ment awaits them. But let all good
good citizens of the State make up
their minds to let this punishment
no rnpaS;7rni ont nv the cn,11tS